JP2004127111A - Method for setting printing line width of outline font - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily-readably print characters with the many number of stroke counts such as kanji. <P>SOLUTION: A font attribute setting device 20 setting a parameter used for rendering for converting outline data indicating outer edge of a character such as a letter or a sign into bit map data and for outputting into a plurality of characters is provided with a line width property acquiring part 120 corresponding to each of a plurality of the characters and acquiring line width property specified by outline data corresponding to the characters, a classification part 130 classifying a plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the acquired line width property, and an attribution setting part 150 setting line width parameters for adjusting line width of bit map data converted by rendering for each of the plurality of groups according to the line width property. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for setting a print line width of an outline font. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for setting a print line width of an outline font by specifying parameters used by a rendering system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to display a character such as a character or a symbol on a screen in various sizes, an outline font indicating an outer edge of the character, such as a CID font defined by U.S.A. 1).
A character generator has been proposed which converts the line width of a character indicated by an outline font or the like into a thick or thin line based on an input value while retaining the design indicated by the outline font (see Patent Document 1). ). Further, a character generator has been proposed which enlarges or reduces a font represented by vector data such as an outline font on the basis of an input scaling size while faithfully reflecting the design of the font (Patent Document 2). reference.). In addition, for a main part of a font representing a character, a target line width when the line width of the main part is converted into bitmap data is input, and the entire font is converged in accordance with the target line width. An output device that generates characters of a size has been proposed (see Patent Document 3).
[0003]
[Non-patent document 1]
Published by Adobe Systems Incorporated, "Adobe CMap and CID Font Files Specification"
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-6310
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-123388
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 7-11749
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the devices disclosed in Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3 can arbitrarily change the line width or the size of the character itself according to an instruction from a user or the like, but require setting for each character. Therefore, the process becomes complicated, and character collapse in actual printing is not considered. Non-Patent Document 1 recommends subsetting (grouping) of CID fonts as a means for division of labor, for example, for character design, creation of Type 1 fonts, testing, etc., instead of setting for each character. Does not mention improvement.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for setting a print line width of an outline font that can solve the above-described problem. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a font attribute setting for setting a parameter used for rendering which converts outline data indicating an outer edge of a character which is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputs the bitmap data for a plurality of characters is provided. A line width characteristic acquisition unit configured to acquire a line width characteristic, which is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character, in association with each of the plurality of characters; A classifying unit that classifies a plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to characteristics, and a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of bitmap data converted by rendering to each of the plurality of groups according to a line width characteristic. A font attribute setting device, comprising: an attribute setting unit for setting; According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for realizing the device, a font generation method, and a program recording medium recording the program.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the present invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all of the combinations of the features described in the embodiments are not limited thereto. It is not always essential to the solution of the invention.
[0008]
FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the printing system 10. The printing system 10 aims to realize clear printing by adjusting a printing method of a character as a character or a symbol according to a line width of each character.
[0009]
The printing system 10 includes a font attribute setting device 20, a computer 25, and a printing device 30. The font attribute setting device 20 receives outline data indicating the outer edge of each of the plurality of characters from outside. Then, the font attribute setting device 20 classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups based on a line width characteristic which is a characteristic of a line width constituting each character. The font attribute setting device 20 sets, for each group, a line width parameter for adjusting the line width of the bitmap data when the outline data is rendered, and sends it to the printing device 30 together with the outline data. Upon receiving a print instruction from the user via the computer 25, the printing device 30 performs printing based on the outline data and the line width parameter received from the font attribute setting device 20.
As described above, since the printing system 10 classifies each character according to the line width characteristics of the lines constituting each character and sets the line width parameter for each group, the printing system 10 prints the lines according to the characteristics of each character. The width can be adjusted.
[0010]
The font attribute setting device 20 includes a font characteristic obtaining unit 100, a character set minimum width obtaining unit 110, a line width characteristic obtaining unit 120, a classifying unit 130, a line width frequency distribution generating unit 140, and an attribute setting unit 150. And
[0011]
The font characteristic acquisition unit 100 receives outline data (for example, the above-described CID font) indicating the outer edge of each of a plurality of characters from outside. Then, the font characteristic acquisition unit 100 acquires the font characteristics recorded in the header portion of the character set including the plurality of outline data, and sends the acquired font characteristics to the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120. For example, the font characteristic acquisition unit 100 determines whether the character set including the plurality of characters is composed of a character with a thicker line than another character set including at least some different outline data. For example, weight information such as bold, medium, or light is acquired and sent to the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120.
[0012]
The character set minimum width obtaining unit 110 receives outline data indicating the outer edge of each of the plurality of characters from outside. Then, the minimum width in character set obtaining unit 110 specifies the minimum width in the character set that is the minimum line width among all the line widths used in the character set composed of the plurality of characters, and It is sent to the characteristic acquisition unit 120.
[0013]
The line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 receives the font characteristics from the font characteristic acquisition unit 100 and receives the minimum width within the character set from the minimum width within character set acquisition unit 110. Then, based on the font characteristics and the minimum width in the character set, the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 determines the minimum line width that is the minimum line width that forms the character or the line that is most frequently used among the line widths of the lines that form the character. It is determined which of the maximum line widths is to be acquired. Subsequently, the line width characteristic acquiring unit 120 selects one of the line width characteristics of the minimum line width or the maximum line width of the character in association with the outline data of each character and acquires the line width characteristic from the outside, and the classification unit 130 Send to For example, the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 may calculate the minimum line width or the maximum line width by counting the number of lines constituting each character for each line width.
More specifically, the line width characteristic acquiring unit 120 may acquire hint information of each character set by an external device as the line width characteristic. The hint information is information set by analyzing the outline data by a computer or manually.When converting the outline data into bitmap data, the hint information specifies the starting point and the width of the line segment to be drawn. Information to specify. Further, as another example, the line width characteristic acquiring unit 120 may acquire only the outline data from the outside, and may acquire the line width characteristic by analyzing the outline data using a computer.
[0014]
The classification unit 130 acquires the line width characteristic of each character from the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 in association with the outline data of each character. Then, the classification unit 130 classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristics. For example, when the minimum line width is acquired as the line width characteristic, the classification unit 130 classifies a plurality of characters having a minimum line width value within a predetermined range as one group. Then, the classification unit 130 associates the outline data and the line width characteristic of each character belonging to the group with each of the group identification information for identifying these groups, and the line width frequency distribution generation unit 140 and the attribute setting unit 150 send.
[0015]
The line width frequency distribution generation unit 140 receives, from the classification unit 130, outline data and line width characteristics of each character associated with each of the group identification information. Then, for each of the plurality of groups, the line width frequency distribution generation unit 140 generates a frequency distribution of the line widths of the lines of all the characters belonging to the group based on the line width characteristics, and sends the distribution to the attribute setting unit 150.
[0016]
The attribute setting unit 150 receives, from the classifying unit 130, outline data and line width characteristics of each character associated with each of the group identification information. Then, the attribute setting unit 150 sets a standard line width (for example, a first standard line width when a plurality of standard line widths can be designated) as a line width parameter for each of these groups. Set to the value of the characteristic. Then, the attribute setting unit 150 sets a plurality of standard line widths (for example, the second to Nth standard line widths) in each group based on the line width at which the frequency distribution received from the line width frequency distribution generation unit 140 is maximized. Set. For example, the attribute setting unit 150 may set, as the standard line width, a line width obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the line width at which the frequency distribution has a maximum.
Here, the standard line width is a target line width to be approximated by rounding such as rounding up or down when the value of the line width in bitmap data generated by rendering is a fraction such as a decimal. Then, the attribute setting unit 150 sends the outline data and the standard line width of each character associated with the group identification information to the printing device 30.
Note that the first standard line width is, for example, a StandardWidth parameter in a CID font, and the second to Nth standard line widths are, for example, a StemArray parameter in a CID font. It is known in the Adobe (registered trademark) Type 1 font that a dominant width (dominant width) is used as the first standard line width. However, in the Type 1 font, grouping according to the line width is not performed.
[0017]
The computer 25 sends an instruction to print a character to the printing device 30 in response to an input such as an instruction from the user.
[0018]
The printing device 30 includes a font recording unit 300, a conversion unit 310, and a printing unit 320.
The font recording unit 300 has a font data recording medium 305. The font recording unit 300 receives the outline data and the standard line width of each character associated with the group identification information from the attribute setting unit 150, and records them on the font data recording medium 305.
[0019]
Upon receiving a print instruction for printing one character from the computer 25, the conversion unit 310 acquires outline data and a standard line width corresponding to the one character from the font recording unit 300. Then, the conversion unit 310 converts the outline data into bitmap data based on the standard line width, and sends the converted bitmap data to the printing unit 320. For example, if the line widths of the lines constituting the character have a fraction on the bit map data of the conversion destination, the conversion unit 310 rounds up or down the line width to approximate the line width indicated by the standard line width. To determine the line width in the bitmap data.
[0020]
The printing unit 320 prints the bitmap data received from the conversion unit 310 on a printing medium.
[0021]
As described above, the printing system 10 classifies the acquired outline data into groups according to the line width characteristics, and sets a standard line width for each group. Since the printing system 10 generates the bitmap data according to the standard line width, it is possible to perform appropriate printing according to the characteristics of the outline data of each character.
[0022]
FIG. 2 shows a detailed example of the font data recording medium 305. The font data recording medium 305 includes, for each of a plurality of groups, a header section 610 as an example of a standard line width recording area and a character data section 620 as an example of an outline data recording area.
[0023]
The header section 610 includes a plurality of horizontal standard line widths and a plurality of vertical standard line widths, each of which is an example of the standard line width, in association with the group identification information. The horizontal standard line width indicates a line width to be brought closer to rounding when the line width of the line segment in the horizontal direction in the character has a fraction on the bitmap. The vertical standard line width indicates a line width that should be closer to rounding when the line width of the vertical line in the character has a fraction on the bitmap.
The header section 610 may include a plurality of horizontal standard line widths and a plurality of vertical standard line widths (for example, the first horizontal standard line width to the Nth horizontal standard line width and the first vertical standard line width to the Nth vertical standard line). width.). In this case, when the line width has a fraction on the bitmap, the conversion unit 310 adjusts the line width so as to approach the closest value among the plurality of standard line widths.
[0024]
The character data section 620 stores outline data indicating an outer edge of a print image of the character in association with character identification information that is information for identifying each of the plurality of characters. For example, the outline data is a set of coordinates indicating both ends of a line segment forming an outer edge of the character on a bitmap coordinate axis having a predetermined size larger than the size of the character to be printed. Further, as another example, the outline data may be an expression indicating a straight line and a curve forming the outer edge of the character.
[0025]
As described above, the font data recording medium 305 records the horizontal standard line width and the vertical standard line width, and the outline data in association with the group identification information. Therefore, the conversion unit 310 can specify the group to which each outline data belongs, and can appropriately convert the outline data based on the standard line width associated with the group.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows an operation flow of the font attribute setting device 20. The font characteristic obtaining unit 100 obtains outline data indicating the outer edges of each of the plurality of characters, together with the font characteristics associated with the character set composed of the plurality of characters (S100). The in-character-set minimum width obtaining unit 110 specifies the in-character-set minimum width that is the minimum line width among all the line widths used in the character set including a plurality of characters (S110).
[0027]
The line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 determines whether the font thickness indicated by the font characteristics acquired in S100 is larger than the font thickness indicated by the font characteristics of another character set (S120). For example, the line width characteristic obtaining unit 120 obtains a weight attribute associated with each font set as a font characteristic, and determines whether the weight attribute is higher than a predetermined value to thereby determine the font thickness. to decide.
[0028]
When the line width characteristic acquiring unit 120 determines that the font thickness indicated by the font characteristic is thicker than a predetermined reference (S120: YES), the line width characteristic acquiring unit 120 associates the font with outline data of a plurality of characters. Then, the minimum line width of the vertical line and the minimum line width of the horizontal line of the character are individually acquired (S130). On the other hand, when the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 determines that the font thickness indicated by the font characteristic is smaller than a predetermined reference (S120: NO), the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 determines that the minimum width in the character set is It is determined whether the width exceeds a predetermined reference line width (S140).
[0029]
If the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 determines that the minimum width in the character set is smaller than the reference line width (S140: NO), the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 associates the minimum line width with the outline data of a plurality of characters and sets the minimum line width of the vertical line of the character. And the minimum line width of the horizontal line is acquired individually (S130). Here, the case where the minimum width in the character set is smaller than the reference line width is, for example, a case where a complicated character such as a kanji having a large number of strokes is included in the character set.
For example, when outline data is represented by coordinates in a bitmap space having a predetermined size such as 1000 × 1000 dots, each line segment forming a complicated character is converted into a line segment forming a simple character. Often designed to be thinner. Therefore, the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 can determine whether or not the character set includes a complicated character by using the minimum line width in the character set.
[0030]
On the other hand, if the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 determines that the minimum width in the character set exceeds the reference line width (S140: YES), the line width characteristic acquisition unit 120 associates the maximum width of the vertical lines of the character with the outline data of a plurality of characters. The line width and the maximum line width of the horizontal line are separately obtained (S150).
[0031]
The classification unit 130 classifies the characters into a predetermined number of groups according to the line width characteristics of the vertical lines, and further classifies each of the groups classified according to the vertical lines into line width characteristics of the horizontal lines. Accordingly, classification is performed more finely than grouping according to the line width characteristics of vertical lines (S160). An example of grouping when the minimum line width is selected in S130 will be described below.
[0032]
First, the classification unit 130 classifies all characters having a minimum vertical line width within a predetermined range into one group. For example, when the outline data is represented by coordinates in a bitmap space of 1000 × 1000 dots, the classifying unit 130 determines a plurality of characters having a minimum vertical line width of 34 to 80 dots in the outline data. , Divided into 10 groups. For example, the classification unit 130 classifies a character having a minimum line width of 34 dots and a character having a minimum line width of 35 dots into the same group, and classifies a character having a minimum line width of 50 dots into another group.
[0033]
Here, the classification unit 130 may classify each of the groups classified according to the vertical line more finely than the grouping according to the vertical line width characteristic according to the horizontal line width characteristic. For example, the classification unit 130 classifies a plurality of characters having a minimum horizontal line width of between 34 dots and 80 dots into 17 groups, which are more than 10 groups corresponding to the number of vertical lines.
For complex characters such as kanji, horizontal lines are more complicated than vertical lines, and the printing of horizontal lines is likely to cause "blurring" or "bleeding", so the classification unit 130 determines the minimum line width of horizontal lines. By finer classification, printing that is easy to read can be performed while maintaining the design of the character.
[0034]
The attribute setting unit 150 sets the first vertical standard line width for each of the plurality of groups to the minimum value of the minimum line width (or the maximum line width) of the vertical lines constituting all the characters belonging to the group. Then, the first horizontal standard line width is set to the minimum value of the minimum line width (or the maximum line width) of the horizontal lines constituting all the characters belonging to the group (S170). As another example, the attribute setting unit 150 may set the average value of the minimum line widths of the vertical lines or horizontal lines constituting all the characters belonging to each group as the vertical or horizontal standard line width of the group. , The maximum value of the minimum line width of the vertical line or the horizontal line may be set as the vertical or horizontal standard line width of the group.
[0035]
The line width frequency distribution generation unit 140 generates a frequency distribution of the line widths of the lines of all the characters belonging to the group based on the line width characteristics in association with each of the plurality of groups (S180). Then, the attribute setting unit 150 sets a plurality of standard line widths (for example, the second to N-th standard line widths) in each group based on the line widths at which the frequency distribution has a maximum (S190).
[0036]
As described above, the printing system 10 determines the minimum line width that is the minimum value of the line width used in each character or the maximum line width that is the most frequently used line width in each character based on the acquired outline data. Identify. Then, the printing system 10 classifies the characters into groups based on the minimum line width or the maximum line width, and sets the standard line width of each group. Further, the printing system 10 additionally sets the standard line width based on the frequency distribution of the line width in each group. Therefore, the printing system 10 can classify characters having similar line width characteristics into the same group and adjust the line width adjustment method during printing for each group.
[0037]
FIG. 4 schematically shows the effect according to the setting of the standard line width. FIG. 4A shows an example of outline data of a kanji character “O”, which is an example of a character. The line widths of the upper side 800, the middle side 810, and the lower side 820 of the character "King" are 60 dots, 45 dots, and 60 dots, respectively.
[0038]
FIG. 4B shows an example of bitmap data generated by rendering the outline data by the conversion unit 310 when the first horizontal standard line width is set to the minimum line width of 45 dots. First, the conversion unit 310 sets the middle side 810 having the same line width as the first horizontal standard line width of 45 dots to 2 dots in the bitmap data.
[0039]
Next, the conversion unit 310 determines the line width of the upper side 800 by the following processing in order to maintain the balance of the character thickness in the outline data. The conversion unit 310 determines that the line width of the upper side 800 is 4/3 times the 45th line which is the first horizontal standard line width, so that the line width of the upper side 800 is 8/3 dots in the bitmap data. It is calculated that there is (the calculation formula is 2 × 4/3). Therefore, since the line width of the upper side 800 includes a fraction that is not an integer in the bitmap data, the conversion unit 310 needs to round the line width to 2 or 3 dots by rounding up or down.
[0040]
The conversion unit 310 determines that the first horizontal standard line width is 45 dots, and the first horizontal standard line width is 2 dots in the bitmap data. Is converted to 2 dots.
[0041]
On the other hand, FIG. 4C shows an example of bitmap data generated by rendering the outline data by the conversion unit 310 when the first horizontal standard line width is set to the maximum line width of 60 dots. . The conversion unit 310 first sets the upper side 800 having the same line width as the first horizontal standard line width of 60 dots to 3 dots in the bitmap data.
[0042]
Next, conversion section 310 determines the line width of middle side 810 by the following processing in order to maintain the balance of the thickness of the characters in the outline data. The conversion unit 310 determines that the line width of the middle side 810 is 9/4 in the bitmap data because the 45-dot line width of the middle side 810 is 3/4 times the 60-dot line width of the first horizontal standard line width. It is calculated as a dot (calculation formula is 3 × 3/4). Therefore, since the line width of the middle side 810 includes a fraction that is not an integer in the bitmap data, the conversion unit 310 needs to round the line width to 2 or 3 dots by rounding up or down.
[0043]
Since the first horizontal standard line width is 60 dots and the first horizontal standard line width is 3 dots in the bitmap data, the conversion unit 310 indicates a target line width to be approximated by rounding a fraction of the line width. The line width of 45 dots on the middle side 810 is converted to 3 dots so as to approach the first horizontal standard line width of 3 dots.
[0044]
Thus, by setting the standard line width, the printing system 10 can set a method of rounding the converted line width when converting outline data into bitmap data. For example, when the standard line width is set to the minimum line width, the printing system 10 generates bitmap data with a thin line as a whole (FIG. 4B). On the other hand, when the standard line width is set to the maximum line width, the printing system 10 generates bitmap data that maintains the balance of the character design in the outline data as a whole (FIG. 4C). By setting either the minimum line width or the maximum line width to the standard line width as necessary, the printing system 10 prints a complex character set having a high density of lines more clearly, and occupies the lines. A low-density character set can be printed more faithfully reflecting the design image indicated by the outline data.
[0045]
FIG. 5 shows an example of subsetting of a character set. FIG. 5A shows an example of subsetting for each character type performed in Adobe CID font.
[0046]
For example, the groups 700-1 to 700-5 include "kana", "Latin characters", "first level characters" (Kanji), "second level characters" (Kanji), and "symbols", respectively. In this case, for example, the same standard line width is set for all Chinese characters belonging to the second level character.
[0047]
Then, both the complicated character and the simple character belonging to the same kind of character set (for example, the second level character) are printed based on the same standard line width. For simple characters, the character design may not be faithfully reflected.
[0048]
FIG. 5B illustrates an example in which the classification unit 130 classifies a plurality of characters according to the maximum line width according to the present embodiment. The classification unit 130 classifies the plurality of characters into four according to the maximum line width of vertical lines (indicated as V in the figure). For example, the classification unit 130 classifies a plurality of characters into a group 710-1 in which the maximum line width of a vertical line is 68 (indicated as V68 in the figure), and a group in which the maximum line width of a vertical line is 72 (V72 in the figure). 710-3), a group 710-4 having a maximum line width of 76 (shown as V76 in the figure), and a group 710-4 having a maximum line width of 76 (shown as V76 in the figure). And V88) are classified into a group 710-5. Furthermore, the classification unit 130 further classifies the group of V72 into groups 710-2 and 710-3 in which the maximum line widths of the horizontal lines are 68 and 72, respectively. The attribute setting unit 150 sets standard vertical and horizontal line widths for each of the classified groups 710-1 to 710-5.
[0049]
As described above, when the classification unit 130 classifies a plurality of characters according to the line width characteristics of each character, the attribute setting unit 150 can set an appropriate standard line width according to the classified group. it can.
[0050]
FIG. 6 shows a print result according to the setting of the standard line width. FIG. 6A shows a print result obtained by printing the general outline data set with the hint information obtained by the font attribute setting device 20 by the printing device 30 (600 dpi, 9.6 point character). In the drawing, the printing apparatus 30 causes “crush” or “bleeding” in a part of the character. When the line width specified by the outline data is large and the printing range is narrow as shown in the figure, the printing apparatus 30 is not only affected by the line collapse in the bitmap data but also by the influence of ink bleeding during printing. As a result, characters that are difficult to read may be printed.
[0051]
FIG. 6B shows a print result of printing performed by the printing system 10 with the maximum line width set as the first standard line width. The influence of “crush” and “bleeding” is smaller than that in FIG.
[0052]
FIG. 6C shows a print result of printing performed by the printing system 10 with the minimum line width set as the first standard line width. The printing system 10 can print characters that are less susceptible to “crushing” and “bleeding” as compared to FIGS. 6A and 6B and that are easy to read.
[0053]
As described above, when printing a character having a high density of the print portion occupying the print range, the printing system 10 sets the minimum line width as the standard line width, thereby “printing” or “bleeding” of the print target. Can be prevented, and characters that are easy to read can be printed.
[0054]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the font attribute setting device 20. The font attribute setting device 20 according to the present embodiment is connected to the host controller 1082 by an input / output controller 1084, and a CPU peripheral portion having a CPU 1000, a RAM 1020, a graphic controller 1075, and a display device 1080 interconnected by a host controller 1082. Input / output unit including a communication interface 1030, a hard disk drive 1040, and a CD-ROM drive 1060, and a legacy input / output unit including a ROM 1010, a flexible disk drive 1050, and an input / output chip 1070 connected to an input / output controller 1084. Is provided.
[0055]
The host controller 1082 connects the RAM 1020 to the CPU 1000 and the graphic controller 1075 that access the RAM 1020 at a high transfer rate. The CPU 1000 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 1010 and the RAM 1020, and controls each unit. The graphic controller 1075 acquires image data generated on the frame buffer provided in the RAM 1020 by the CPU 1000 or the like, and displays the image data on the display device 1080. Alternatively, the graphic controller 1075 may include a frame buffer for storing image data generated by the CPU 1000 or the like.
[0056]
The input / output controller 1084 connects the host controller 1082 to the communication interface 1030, the hard disk drive 1040, and the CD-ROM drive 1060, which are relatively high-speed input / output devices. The communication interface 1030 communicates with another device via a network. The hard disk drive 1040 stores programs and data used by the font attribute setting device 20. The CD-ROM drive 1060 reads a program or data from the CD-ROM 1095 and provides it to the input / output chip 1070 via the RAM 1020.
[0057]
The input / output controller 1084 is connected to a ROM 1010 and relatively low-speed input / output devices such as a flexible disk drive 1050 and an input / output chip 1070. The ROM 1010 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 1000 when the font attribute setting device 20 is activated, a program that depends on hardware of the font attribute setting device 20, and the like. The flexible disk drive 1050 reads a program or data from the flexible disk 1090 and provides the program or data to the input / output chip 1070 via the RAM 1020. The input / output chip 1070 connects various input / output devices via a flexible disk 1090 and, for example, a parallel port, a serial port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, and the like. Also, the input / output chip 1070 receives data corresponding to the user's input and gives the data to a program executed on the font attribute setting device 20. Further, the input / output chip 1070 transmits a program or data provided from the flexible disk drive 1050 or the CD-ROM drive 1060 to the computer 25 and the printing device 30.
[0058]
The programs provided and executed to the font attribute setting device 20, the computer 25, and the printing device 30 include, as functional components, a font characteristic acquisition module, a character set minimum width acquisition module, a line width characteristic acquisition module, a classification module, and a line width degree. It has a number distribution generation module and an attribute setting module. The operations that each module causes the font attribute setting device 20, the computer 25, and the printing device 30 to perform are the same as the operations of the corresponding members in the font attribute setting device 20, the computer 25, and the printing device 30 described in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted.
[0059]
The programs provided to the font attribute setting device 20, the computer 25, and the printing device 30 are stored in a program recording medium such as a flexible disk 1090, a CD-ROM 1095, or an IC card and provided by a user. The program is read from the program recording medium, installed in the computer 25 and the printing device 30 via the input / output chip 1070, and executed in the font attribute setting device 20, the computer 25, and the printing device 30. Alternatively, the computer 25 and the printing device 30 may further include a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, an IC card reader, or the like, and may read and execute the program directly from the program recording medium.
[0060]
The programs or modules described above may be stored in an external storage medium. As the storage medium, in addition to the flexible disk 1090 and the CD-ROM 1095, an optical recording medium such as a DVD or PD, a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MD, a tape medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card, or the like can be used. Alternatively, a storage device such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet may be used as a recording medium, and the program may be provided to the printing system 10 via the network.
[0061]
As described above, the printing system 10 classifies the outline data into groups according to the minimum line width or the maximum line width, and sets the standard line width of each group to the minimum line width or the maximum line width. Since the printing system 10 generates bitmap data according to the standard line width, printing can be performed according to the characteristics of the outline data of each character. Therefore, the printing system 10 can easily print a character with a large number of strokes such as a kanji while reflecting the design of the outline data as much as possible.
[0062]
As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiment. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the description of the appended claims that embodiments with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
For example, the attribute setting unit 150 may set the standard line width of each character to a predetermined value equal to or smaller than the minimum line width (for example, a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the minimum line width). By setting in this manner, the printing system 10 performs a process of rounding each line constituting the character to a line width equal to or less than the minimum line width of the character, thereby printing a complicated character such as a kanji easily. be able to.
[0063]
According to the above-described embodiment, the following technology for setting the print line width of the outline font is realized.
[0064]
(Item 1) A font attribute setting device that sets parameters used for rendering for converting outline data indicating an outer edge of a character which is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputting the converted data to a plurality of the characters, A line width characteristic acquisition unit that acquires a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character, in association with each of the characters; A classification unit that classifies characters into a plurality of groups; and a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering in each of the plurality of groups, according to the line width characteristics. A font attribute setting device, comprising: an attribute setting unit.
(Item 2) The font attribute setting device according to item 1, wherein the attribute setting unit sets the line width parameter different from each other for each of the plurality of groups.
[0065]
(Item 3) The classification unit classifies the plurality of characters into a predetermined number of groups according to the line width characteristics of the vertical lines respectively specified by the outline data, and further classifies the characters into the vertical lines. 3. The method according to item 2, wherein each of the corresponding groups is further classified in accordance with the line width characteristics of the horizontal lines constituting each of the outline data, based on the line width characteristics of the vertical lines. Font attribute setting device.
(Item 4) The attribute setting unit sets, as the line width parameter, a method of rounding a fraction of the converted line width when converting the outline data into the bitmap data. Font attribute setting device.
(Item 5) The attribute setting unit sets, as the line width parameter, a standard line width indicating a target line width to be brought closer by rounding a fraction of the converted line width. Described font attribute setting device.
[0066]
(Item 6) For each of the plurality of groups, a line width frequency distribution generation unit that generates a frequency distribution of line widths of lines of all the characters belonging to the group based on the line width characteristics, The attribute setting device according to item 5, wherein the attribute setting unit sets a plurality of the standard line widths in the group based on the line widths at which the frequency distribution becomes maximum.
(Item 7) The line width characteristic obtaining unit obtains, for each of the characters, a minimum line width that is a minimum line width constituting the character, and the attribute setting unit sets the line width parameter of each of the characters to the line width. The font attribute setting device according to item 5, wherein the font attribute setting device sets the minimum line width.
[0067]
(Item 8) The line width characteristic acquisition unit acquires, for each of the characters, a maximum line width that is the most frequently used line width among the line widths of the lines constituting the character. Item 5. The font attribute setting device according to item 5, wherein the line width parameter of the character is set to the maximum line width.
(Item 9) It is determined whether or not the character set including the plurality of characters is composed of characters with thicker lines than other character sets including outline data different from the character set for at least some of the characters. A font characteristic acquisition unit that acquires a font characteristic shown, wherein the line width characteristic acquisition unit determines a minimum line width or a maximum line width that is a minimum line width constituting each of the characters according to the font characteristic. 9. The font attribute setting device according to item 8, wherein the attribute setting unit selects and acquires the attribute and sets the selected minimum line width or the maximum line width as the line width parameter for each of the characters.
[0068]
(Item 10) The character set further includes a character set minimum width obtaining unit that obtains a minimum line width within the character set that is a minimum line width among all line widths used in the character set including the plurality of characters. When determining that the minimum width in the character set is greater than a predetermined reference line width, the width characteristic acquiring unit determines the minimum line width, which is the minimum line width constituting the outline data, in the character set. When it is determined that the small width is smaller than the reference line width, the maximum line width is obtained for each of the characters, and the attribute setting unit determines whether the obtained minimum line width or the maximum line width is either Item 8. The font attribute setting device according to Item 8, wherein the line width parameter is set for each of the characters.
(Item 11) A program that causes a plurality of characters to use a computer to set parameters used for rendering that converts outline data indicating the outer edge of a character that is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputs the bitmap data, A line width characteristic acquisition unit that associates the computer with each of the plurality of characters and acquires a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character; A classification unit that classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups in accordance with the plurality of groups; and a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering for each of the plurality of groups. Function as an attribute setting unit that is set according to Ram.
[0069]
(Item 12) A font generation method for setting a parameter used for rendering for converting outline data indicating an outer edge of a character which is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputting the bitmap data to an outline font indicating a plurality of the characters. Acquiring the outline data associated with each of the plurality of characters, and characteristics of a line width specified by the outline data corresponding to the character in association with each of the plurality of characters. Obtaining a line width characteristic; classifying the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristic; lines of the bitmap data converted by the rendering into each of the plurality of groups. Adjust the line width parameter to adjust the width And outputting the data in correspondence with the outline data.
[0070]
(Item 13) A program recording a program for setting, by using a computer, a plurality of characters with parameters used for rendering which converts outline data indicating the outer edge of a character which is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputs the bitmap data. A recording medium, wherein the program associates the computer with each of the plurality of characters and obtains a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character. A width characteristic acquisition unit, a classification unit that classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristics, and a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering into each of the plurality of groups. Set the line width parameter to be adjusted according to the line width characteristics A program recording medium functioning as an attribute setting unit.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a character having a large number of strokes such as a kanji can be printed easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a printing system 10.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed example of a font data recording medium 305.
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the font attribute setting device 20;
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an effect according to a setting of a standard line width.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of character set subsetting.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a print result according to a setting of a standard line width.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a font attribute setting device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Printing system
20 Font attribute setting device
25 Computer
30 Printer
100 Font characteristics acquisition unit
110 Character Set Minimum Width Acquisition Unit
120 Line width characteristic acquisition unit
130 Classifier
140 Line width frequency distribution generator
150 Attribute setting section
300 Font Recorder
305 Font data recording medium
310 converter
320 Printing unit
610 Header
620 Character data section

Claims (13)

A font attribute setting device that sets parameters used for rendering that converts outline data indicating the outer edge of a character that is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputs the bitmap data, to a plurality of the characters,
A line width characteristic acquisition unit that acquires a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character in association with each of the plurality of characters;
A classification unit that classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristics;
A font comprising a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering in accordance with the line width characteristic, for each of the plurality of groups. Attribute setting device. The font attribute setting device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute setting unit sets the line width parameter different from each other for each of the plurality of groups. The classification unit classifies the plurality of characters into a predetermined number of groups according to the line width characteristics of the vertical lines specified by the outline data, and further includes the group corresponding to the vertical lines. 3. The font attribute setting according to claim 2, further comprising classifying each of the horizontal lines constituting the outline data according to the line width characteristics of the vertical lines, based on the line width characteristics of the vertical lines. 4. apparatus. 2. The font attribute according to claim 1, wherein the attribute setting unit sets, as the line width parameter, a method of rounding a fraction of the converted line width when converting the outline data into the bitmap data. 3. Setting device. The font according to claim 4, wherein the attribute setting unit sets a standard line width indicating a target line width to be approximated by rounding a fraction of the line width after the conversion as the line width parameter. Attribute setting device. For each of the plurality of groups, a line width frequency distribution generation unit that generates a frequency distribution of line widths of lines of all the characters belonging to the group based on the line width characteristics,
6. The font attribute setting device according to claim 5, wherein the attribute setting unit sets a plurality of the standard line widths in the group based on the line width at which the frequency distribution has a maximum. The line width characteristic obtaining unit obtains, for each of the characters, a minimum line width that is a minimum line width of the character,
The font attribute setting device according to claim 5, wherein the attribute setting unit sets the line width parameter of each of the characters to the minimum line width. The line width characteristic obtaining unit obtains, for each character, a maximum line width which is a line width most frequently used among line widths of lines constituting the character,
6. The font attribute setting device according to claim 5, wherein the attribute setting unit sets the line width parameter of each of the characters to the maximum line width. A font characteristic indicating whether or not the character set including the plurality of characters is composed of characters with thicker lines than other character sets including outline data different from the character set for at least some characters. Further comprising a font characteristic acquisition unit for acquiring
The line width characteristic obtaining unit selects and obtains a minimum line width or a maximum line width that is a minimum line width constituting each of the characters according to the font characteristics,
9. The font attribute setting device according to claim 8, wherein the attribute setting unit sets the selected minimum line width or the maximum line width to each of the characters as the line width parameter. Among all the line widths used in the character set including the plurality of characters, the character set further includes a character set minimum width obtaining unit that obtains a character set minimum width that is a minimum line width,
The line width characteristic acquiring unit, when it is determined that the minimum width in the character set exceeds a predetermined reference line width, the minimum line width that is the minimum line width constituting the outline data, the character set When it is determined that the inner minimum width is smaller than the reference line width, the maximum line width is obtained for each of the characters,
9. The font attribute setting device according to claim 8, wherein the attribute setting unit sets one of the acquired minimum line width or the maximum line width as the line width parameter for each of the characters. 10. A program that causes a plurality of the characters to be set by a computer using a parameter used for rendering which converts outline data indicating the outer edge of the character being a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputs the data,
A line width characteristic acquisition unit that associates the computer with each of the plurality of characters and acquires a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character;
A classification unit that classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristics;
A program for causing each of the plurality of groups to function as an attribute setting unit that sets a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering according to the line width characteristic. . A font generation method for setting parameters used for rendering to convert outline data indicating the outer edge of a character that is a character or a symbol into bitmap data and outputting the converted data to an outline font indicating a plurality of the characters,
Obtaining the outline data associated with each of the plurality of characters;
Acquiring a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character in association with each of the plurality of characters;
Classifying the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristics;
Setting a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering in accordance with the line width characteristic, and outputting the line width parameter in association with outline data for each of the plurality of groups. A font generation method, comprising: A program recording medium in which a program for causing a plurality of characters to set using a computer parameters used for rendering that converts outline data indicating the outer edge of the character, which is a character or a symbol, into bitmap data and outputs the converted data is provided. hand,
A line width characteristic acquisition unit that associates the computer with each of the plurality of characters and acquires a line width characteristic that is a characteristic of a line width specified by outline data corresponding to the character;
A classification unit that classifies the plurality of characters into a plurality of groups according to the line width characteristics;
A program for causing each of the plurality of groups to function as an attribute setting unit that sets a line width parameter for adjusting a line width of the bitmap data converted by the rendering according to the line width characteristic. recoding media.

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